Inbox: Conflict Over Harbor Cleanup

Working on Superfund
issues involves a lot of connection with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, local companies and local organizations seeking to
clean up the harbor.

If there are clear
lines between what she does [as Portland’s environmental and planning
adviser], and what her husband does with the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality working to control the historic sources of
pollution along the shoreline, then it really is not a problem, folks.

While the city of
Portland is a potentially responsible party in this issue, most of its
work is with the EPA in relation to in-water sediment contamination.

It would be great if
the focus could be on “how do we get this river cleaned up, and where
should we put the contaminated sediment?”

—“Travis Williams”

I think you can understand Mayor Charlie Hales by drawing
two boxes. One is “the basics,” the minimum he thinks he needs to do and
for which he considers himself accountable.

The other box is
“whatever the hell I feel like doing,” which covers everything else. In
that box, accountability, coherency and consistency don’t apply.

I wondered what the
hell it would be like to sell bikini coffee...who the customers
are...and then I felt sad, because I was a barista for many years (a
really un-hot one) and I burned pretty much every bit of skin not
covered by clothing.

On that note, good luck, bikini baristas.

—“Iris”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include the author’s street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words. Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210. Fax: (503) 243-1115. Email: mzusman@wweek.com.